On a coral reef: The romantic adventure of a wrecked ship's crew

San Francisco June 9-
The Oceanic Steamer Markosa arrived from Sydney via Auckland and Honolulu to-day. She reported that on May 29 she rescued from Palyra island an uninhabited coral reef about 1300 miles north of the Samoan group, the crew and passengers of the British bark Henry James, Captain Luthmore, which was wrecked there April 16, while bound from New Castle, N.S.W. to San Francisco. The Henry James struck a reef thirty-five miles from palmyra. Among the passengers were several women and children. All on board took to the small boats and with a few provisions, which could barely be collected set sail for the island. Where they arrived there a few deserted —— were found and the women and children were made as comfortable as possible. No clothing or other effects were anved, except a pat of blankets, which were thoroughly drenched. A few days later a boat in charge of the first mate with the boatswain and three seamen, left the island for Samoa, which was reached in nineteen days.

An attempt was made to board the bark which still alt on the reef, but she was found to be settling down, and it was impossible to obtain any more provisions from her. When the small boat reached Samoa the disaster was reported and a schooner left to rescue the sufferers.

A short time afterward Capt. Hayward of the steamer Mariposa, while off Tumiala was notified of the wreck of the Henry James by Lieut. Crossup of the U.S. steamer Mohican, and he left for Palmyra at once, when he arrived there he found the provisions of the party very low, but they had been able to subsist on cocoanuts and a few articles found on the island. No serious illness had occurred.

The outcasts were given a liberal donation of clothes and money by the officers and passengers of the Mariposa, and in a few days were landed at Honolulu, where they will remain till the next steamer sails for this port.

source: The Sunday Oregonian
location: Portland Oregon